Encourages the new administration

Published 5:00 pm, Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Encourages the new administration

As a supporter of Hillary Clinton who spent several evenings calling into a battleground state on her behalf, I am of course deeply disappointed by the outcome of the election, but the democracy has worked its will.

We must hope that the new administration will be successful in taking on inequality, rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, negotiating entitlement reform, dealing with climate change, fixing a broken immigration system, promoting fair trade in the global economy, improving and extending healthcare coverage, initiating tax reform, pressing the fight against terrorism and nominating qualified candidates for the Supreme Court without policy litmus tests.

To make progress in these areas the new administration will need a legislature that is not subject to super-majorities, except as required by the Constitution. The antidote to our dysfunctional federal government in large part will be the restoration of simple majority voting in the Senate. Let our legislators find the courage to act on appointments and on most issues with up-or-down majority votes.

Above all, let the loyal opposition make its case for or against the proposals of the new administration without wanting the executive branch to fail at all cost. That mean spirited approach to the political process has been a major contributor to political paralysis, which breeds dysfunctional government and undermines the democratic process.